Not really a micro-mini sweater (nor a micro mini kilt ... of plaid).  Peacock Sweater 2.0 is looking rad.  I'm also loving the full-length, full-wall mirror in our apartment.  So much better than taking pix in the bathroom.

This is the softest, squishiest cotton scarf ever.  Just in time for summer in San Francisco (Sept/Oct) ... ha!  No matter, it'll be chilly here soon enough.

I had an inkling that last week was going to be busy, and that's part of the reason I planned "Macro Week" to fill in the void.  I had no idea just HOW busy I was going to be.  As the week was passing I kept groaning to myself, "WHY did I name the post "Macro Week - Monday?!"  :)

Lesson learned: Don't promise a series of posts unless you have them written and scheduled to publish.  Especially if the series is filler for when you're busy.  Haha!

But even when life is at it's busiest, I'm pretty good at carving out tiny bits of crafting time, so even though I didn't have time to take and post a macro photo, I *did* have time to have crafty fun:

- I worked on the peacock sweater
- I finished the six-color spiral market bag
- I made the handles for my secret project
- I went craft store hopping with Ann (@Schliess81)
- I bought yarn for finger tubes (and a bunch of other goodies!)
- I finally got a library card.
- I checked out a book on macrame and a book on color knitting techniques
- I am *this close* to finishing Andrew's sumptuous garter stitch scarf
- I ordered fabric from Spoonflower on free swatch day

Oh, wow!  That's a lot more than I thought I did.  Awesome.

Sometimes it feels like I'm always in the middle of fifty-million projects and I never finish any.  I've toyed with the idea of not starting any until I finish the one's I'm in the middle of.  But it seems to me that having too many projects in the works at one time is actually a good thing because if I get frustrated or stuck, I can just stop and pick up something else.  Then, when the time is right, I go back to the other project and solve the problem that stopped me from working on it.

This way I'm almost always SUPER EXCITED about what I'm working on.  I never have to force myself to slog through a project because I have nothing else to work on.  I *always* have *several* other things to work on ... and a list of a ba-zillion things that I haven't even started yet.

This week I'm going to try to get caught up with my full to bursting inbox.  I thought about just not posting, but I settled instead on a week of eye candy ... with the comments turned off.  Enjoy!

Megan made great use of colorful ready-made appliques on her Starling bag.  And the multi-strand bow is just adorable.  I was already blown away before I saw the next photo ...

Oh, there's nothing I don't love about this lining: pockets, bright fabric, PENCILS!  But then I opened the next photo ....

Squeeeeeeeee!  Secret rainbow bottom!  Megan, you rock!

Rachel made this gorgeous gray Starling with pink felt and bead embellishments.

Don't you just love that lining?!  Beautiful!

Kristin made these Mother/Daughter Starlings.  The purple one with the amazing crochet flower is her daughter's.  Kristin's has a smart crochet pocket on the front.  Perfect for holding your cell phone.  Great work!

The other night I had an idea for a market bag.  I scribbled down some notes before I fell asleep.  I got a chance to try things out at craft night on Wednesday.

This is version number 4 ... and it won't be the last.  I'm trying to find the right increase formula so the spiral stays flat.

Working on a handbag lining and following along with my own tutorial.  Thank goodness I already figured out all the tricky bits.  ;)

This is the first time I've used my sewing machine since our move back West.  I had no idea how much (HOW MUCH) I missed sewing.  I'm feeling super sappy about my sewing machine right now.  If it were as cuddly as Neville, I'd sleep with it tucked in my arm tonight.  Sweet sweet sewing machine, I less than three you.

Wednesday, August 18th 5:30PM to 8:30PM at The Grove.

Tomorrow is the third Wednesday and that means Crafting In Public! The forecast calls for a bone chilling high of 62 degrees which means by the time we gather at 5:30 PM, it'll be even bone chilling-er ... and foggy ... and windy ... and that just makes it hard to craft outside.

With a quorum of two, since Steve is also a late-night tweeter, the decision has been made to meet at The Grove, which is right near Yerba Buena.  I haven't had a chance to check with all the usual suspects, but I'm sure no one will complain. :)

Everyone is welcome!  Just show up with your project and introduce yourself.

I've completely frogged the peacock sweater and started all over again.  Meaning, for the five-bazillionth time.  And somehow, I'm as excited as I was the first time.

This photo, from my last peacock sweater post, artfully showed off the kick ass sleeve I made, but I sneakily downplayed the mistakes that were becoming apparent in the rest of the sweater as I went along.

Namely, that the V-neck was becoming too deep and the back of the neck was half way to my shoulder blades.  The issue is that the weight of the sweater was pulling the stitches down, stretching them out.

Here you can see the super-low dip in the back neck as well as the worst problem of all: the wide-set arm holes.  The arrows show you how the armholes are half way down my biceps.

There are two separate problems. First, I didn't completely understand arm hole shaping.  I've spent a lot of time looking at the armholes of shirts and sweaters since February and I understand now why pattern pieces have that weird point at the bottom of the armhole ... because your arm is round and the hole needs to wrap around it.

Second, the stitch pattern I'm using is very bunchy, but easily stretches out ... especially when there's several more rows of crochet pulling on it.  I should have blocked it before I measured it for gauge.  I planned the pattern as if the motif was 2.75 inches tall, but they are actually 3 inches tall when blocked (or stretched).

Would this be the right moment to admit that I've never, in my whole life, blocked something?  Never ever.  I guess I've never really needed to yet.  In this case, I definitely needed to.

How about this craziness?  The unblocked piece on the left has one more row than the blocked piece on the right.  I've completely re-charted the pattern.

Get ready for the next gen Peacock Sweater!  The one that fits!  

Do you have any tips for blocking a seamless sweater?  I thought it might crush the post stitches to lay it on a towel.  Would putting a towel on a hanger and then putting the wet sweater on the hanger work?  Come on, I know  you've got a brilliant idea about how to do this. :)

Patricia made this Starling to be used as a diaper bag with a blanket to match.  I'm a huge fan of random striping.  What a beautiful set!

Shelley made this Starling for herself.  She's already had a request to make one for her Mother.  I love that velvety lining.  So luxurious!

Hazreen from Malaysia made this Sigmund.  I'm amazed at all the tiny perfect stitches along his tentacles. (^_^) Great job!